City Council on Monday night gave its blessing to the proposed development of a multi-unit housing complex for senior citizens on the city’s north end.

Now it’s up to the Fortus Group of Fort Wayne, Ind., to convince state officials to grant the use of Ohio Housing Tax Credits for the project to move forward.

Christian Sexton of New Philadelphia, a Fortus Group vice president and partner, expressed his appreciation to all council members for unanimously approving an emergency resolution in support of the proposed development.

Sexton also thanked Mayor Richard Homrighausen for his administration’s support and the city Planning Commission for its approval.

Sexton said afterward that Dover’s support is an extremely important part of the process for his company to obtain the necessary tax credits, which are necessary for the project to proceed.

Statewide, he estimates, there could be 100 applications for the same type of financing, and ultimately only 20 to 30 will be successful.

“So it was extremely important, and I thank the council for working with me over the past two months because it really allows our application to stand out at the state level,” Sexton said. The application will be submitted yet this week, he said, and the successful applicants will be notified in June.

“In order to move forward, we need a reservation of tax credits from the state,” Sexton said. If successful, the development will be known as The Residence at Canal Dover.

When he brought his proposal to council last month, Sexton said the development will include 50 to 70 apartment units on six acres adjacent to the Discount Drug Mart shopping plaza on N. Wooster Avenue, directly across the street from Buehler’s Parkside store.

Some of the rental units would be in a three-story building adjacent to Drug Mart, while others would be two-bedroom villas with garages on the remaining site. All will be exclusively for seniors age 55 and over.

Homrighausen in January said The Fortus Group’s plan “basically mirrors” an original plan discussed at length for the property in the mid-1990s.

The mayor also said then that “extensive discussions were held with the neighbors of the Northwood Allotment at that time and worked out many of the lot usages and restrictions that are on file in my office.”

In other matters, council:

Heard the mayor announce that he has received a letter from the Government Finance Officers Association indicating that City Auditor Mary Fox will be receiving a Certificate of Achievement award for excellence in financial reporting.

Was informed that the city was awarded the 2012 President’s Award for it’s contributions to the United Way at an awards luncheon last week.

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Heard Homrighausen commend and thank the city’s electric departments personnel for working together to recently achieve a second “RP3” award from the American Public Power Association. He noted that “RP3” stands for Reliable Public Power Provider, and that Dover once again is a gold member community.

Gave first reading to a resolution to thank the Dover Eagles Club No. 515 and the Ohio State Eagles Charity Fund for a $7,200 donation for the Dover Police Department.

Approved a resolution thanking the Dover Lions Club for its donation of $1,000 for improvements to the City Park amphitheater.